McLeans College

Almost 60 students from McLeans College came snorkelling at Goat Island on Monday. Our first school group for 2013. Almost all the students could snorkel with some able to dive down exceptionally well. We saw dozens of snapper, red moki, trevally, blue maomao, sweep and a few eaglerays. The rarest fish seen was a giant boarfish that hovered over the sand near Alphabet Bay.
We followed the snorkel with a walk over the rocky shore where we saw seashells, crabs, triplefins, barnacles, seaweeds, decorator crabs and much more.

Toku Mapihi Maurea Kura Kaupapa Maori School

Students from Hamilton arrived in Leigh to stay at the Omaha Marae and enjoy the activities in the area. They were all very good at the snorkelling and saw some huge snapper plus other fishes.  The parents and teachers who helped did a wonderful job too.

Bethlehem College

We guided a small group of lovely girls at the marine reserve. They are staying at the Goat Island Camp and enjoying all the various activities of the area including the Marine Discovery Centre. Although the water cool was still quite cool it was clear. Saw numerous banded wrasse, snapper, red moki, spotties and small schools of kahawaii. All managed the snorkelling and had a great time.

Birkdale Intermediate School

Today 26 students came snorkelling with us at Goat Island. They were very enthusiastic and stayed in the water for ages. We saw snapper, red moki, spotties, a large short-tailed stingray and several eagle rays. Water is warming up and with the sunshine it felt like a nice summery day.

Summer's Here

Broad Squid

At last the air temperature and the sea temperature have warmed up. Visibility at Goat Island today was awesome. I guided a small group from Germany and Norway. We saw the usual fish like snapper, spotties, red moki plus a big school of Jack Mackerel. We looked for rays but orca had visited early in the morning and we saw none. Some very small broad squid glowed in the sunlight near the ecklonia kelp.

Whangaparaoa College

25 International students came snorkelling at Goat Island. Tide was very low but all managed the activity with no problems. Some very big snapper came around and there were several eagle rays in the shallows. Water still a bit cooler than usual for this time of year.

Labour Weekend Snorkels

Tony guided five lovely ladies on a snorkelling experience. Visibility wasn't the best, there were still plenty of fish to see and a few eaglerays resting on the sand.  Water still a bit on a cool side, but wearing a wetsuit meant they could stayed in for 45 mins.

Guided Snorkel Experience

From Labour Weekend onwards we are again starting our guided snorkelling experiences at the famous Goat Island Marine Reserve. Email if you'd like more information. No experience is necessary! snorkel@discovergoatisland.co.nz

Winter Break

We will begin the guided snorkelling tours later in October when the weather warms up again. If you haven't tried snorkelling yet, then we will show you what to do and will guide you off the beach at the Goat Island Marine Reserve. Add it to your bucket list and don't worry if you can't swim as we give you a wetsuit to wear and take a safety flotation board with us.

April snorkelling

Learn to snorkel safely!

We are still be doing guided snorkelling experiences at Goat Island during April, although the weather has been very changeable. Water is still warmer than December. Days available are Friday, Saturday and Sunday until the end of April, weather permitting of course. You can book now at Goat Island Dive to learn with us, but hurry as numbers each day are limited!
April 15th the water was calm and we guided 3 adults and 3 children. There were a lot of big and small snapper around including the famous Monkeyface who we have seen at Goat Island since 1993 and he was already a very large fish back then.
The snorkelling experiences will start again in late October. 

Otamatea High School

Red moki at Goat Island

Today we guided a small group of students from Otamatea High, at Goat Island. Conditions were very calm, sunny and visibility improving. We saw snapper of all sizes, leatherjackets, piper, big and small red moki and more. The students were great at snorkelling and all gained their PADI snorkelling certificate.

Diocesan School for Girls

Leatherjacket

Today 20 lovely students from Dio came snorkelling at the Goat Island Marine Reserve. They were all very good snorkellers, many going down to the sea floor easily. The water was clear and calm with hundreds of harmless little chain salps in the water. Fishes seen include snapper, piper, red moki, spotties, sweep, leatherjackets, kahawai and trevally.